Mark Wahlberg, formerly known as Marky Mark, is an actor and former rapper. But while his music career is not well-known, many movie gurus have seen the stoic face of Wahlberg leading some of the most action-packed films.
If you want to check out the best of Mark Wahlberg, then look no further than this complete list. Based on the public’s vote through Rotten Tomato, these are seven of the best of Mark Wahlberg that span from war movies to buddy cop movies.
7. The Other Guys, Netflix (2010)
The Other Guys is a 2010 buddy cop action film with peak humor. Mark Wahlberg stars alongside Will Ferrell, and the two really knock it out of the park. The two start the movie by being known as the “other guys”, the two cops that aren’t in the field.
Thanks to Hoitz’s, played by Wahlberg, mistakes in the line of duty in the past, and Gamble’s, played by Ferrel, reluctance to take risks, they’re stuck doing paperwork. Thankfully, when an opportunity approaches, the duo works together to take on a high-profile investigation of shady capitalist David Ershon and attempt to fill the shoes of the notoriously reckless officers they idolize.
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6. Patriots Day, Netflix (2016)
While films like Ted and Daddy’s Home prove that Wahlberg shines in the comedy genre, his talent belongs to action. Patriots Day is a prime example of this. The 2016 action thriller film is based on the Boston Marathon bombings in 2013 and the following state-wide manhunt that happened in order to track down the terrorists.
The film sees Wahlberg playing Tommy Saunders who is doing security duty at the marathon and later joins forces with the FBI to help track down the terrorist. The film stars Wahlberg, John Goodman, and Kevin Bacon, and is a great option if you want to watch the best of Mark Wahlberg.
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5. Deepwater Horizon, Prime Video (2016)
Continuing the genre of action and thrillers is Deepwater Horizon, a 2016 natural disaster film based on the Deepwater Horizon Explosion and oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The movie is an adaptation of the New York Times’ 2010 article about the explosion. Wahlberg plays Mike Williams, the Chief Electrical Engineer of the rig.
When the rig is pushed beyond its limit without thinking of the safety of the rig and its crew, Williams and the crew realize they’re being put in a horrible situation that they can’t stop.
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4. The Fighter, Paramount (2010)
The Fighter is the best of Mark Wahlberg inspired by the 1995 documentary featuring the Eklund-Ward family. The movie stars Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, and Melissa Leo.
The story is based on Mickey Ward, who is played by Wahlberg, a fledgling boxer who tried to escape the shadow of his more famous but troubled older boxing brother and get his own shot at greatness.
3. The Departed, Prime Video (2006)
The Departed is a crime thriller directed by Martin Scorsese starring great names like Wahlberg, Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Alec Baldwin, and more. The movie focuses on the South Boston state police force waging war on Irish-American organized crime.
When they send a young undercover cop, Billy Costigan, to infiltrate the mob syndicate, they don’t know that a young hardened criminal has infiltrated the state police as an informer for the syndicate. Both get deep into their double lives, making for a compelling and interesting story.
2. Boogie Nights, Max (1997)
While not his usual role, Boogie Nights is still the best of Mark Wahlberg. The movie is set in Los Angeles’s San Fernando Valley and focuses on a young nightclub dishwasher who becomes a popular star in illicit movies.
While he begins at the peak of his lifetime, his ego, drugs, and the fall of those kinds of movies make his fake fleeting. The mockumentary stars Wahlberg, Julianne Moore, Burt Reynolds, Don Cheadle, and many more.
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1. Three Kings, Prime Video (1999)
Three Kings is hands down the best of Mark Wahlberg. The black comedy war film stars him as well as George Clooney, Ice Cube, Spike Jonze, and four American soldiers on a gold heist that takes place during the 1991 uprisings in Iraq against Saddam Hussein following the end of the First Gulf War.
On their journey to the cache where they hope to find gold, they are led to unexpected discoveries, enabling them to rise to a heroic challenge that ultimately changes their lives.